Matthew 5:36 Meaning and Explanation
“Neither shalt thou swear by thy head, because thou canst not make one hair white or black.”
King James Version (KJV)
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Read Full Chapter →Jesus says not even to swear by your own head, for you control nothing, not even one hair.
What Does Matthew 5:36 Mean?
Jesus adds a final example: do not swear even by your own head. The reason is humbling -- you cannot so much as change the color of a single hair. Even our own selves are not truly ours to pledge.
The teaching deflates human pride in our supposed power to guarantee anything. Our very lives are in God's hands, down to the smallest detail. To swear by ourselves is to claim a control we do not possess. Jesus calls us to honesty grounded in humility, recognizing that all we have and are belongs to God, and that simple truthfulness honors him far more than confident oaths.
Frequently Asked Questions About Matthew 5:36
What does Matthew 5:36 mean?
Jesus says not even to swear by your own head, for you control nothing, not even one hair.